Primary school pupils could be ranked against their peers across the country under new plans being considered by ministers.

The Government has put forward proposals for new measures which would see youngsters put into 10% bands or deciles, based on their achievements.

Parents would be told their child’s position, for example that they are in the top 10% in the country in a particular subject.

Human rights worry at arms exports

More than 3,000 export licences for the sale of arms and other military-related equipment to states on the Foreign Office’s list of countries of human rights concern have been issued and remain in force, MPs have found.

The Commons Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) said the combined value of the individual export licences alone came to more than £12 billion.

Among the countries for which licences for strategically controlled goods have been issued are Iran, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China and Belarus. Three licences still remain valid for Syria.

Downing Street to publish lobby curb plans

Downing Street is preparing to publish plans imposing curbs on the lobbying industry amid mounting pressure about the influence wielded by David Cameron's election guru on government policy.

Critics have questioned Lynton Crosby’s role in plans to put cigarette plain packaging on hold and an expected announcement dropping minimum alcohol pricing.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt last night insisted the Tory adviser, whose public affairs firm has been working with tobacco giant Philip Morris in this country since November and reportedly also has links to the drinks industry, had not lobbied the Prime Minister on public health issues.

HSBC donates £30m to youth groups

A leading bank is to make a £30 million donation to four youth charities with the aim of helping 25,000 disadvantaged young people into work or training.

The HSBC initiative will fund existing programmes run by The Prince’s Trust, Catch 22, St Giles Trust and Tomorrow’s People.

The move was announced ahead of the latest unemployment figures which are expected to show that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work is almost a million.

Fresh call for Kelly inquest

Doctors campaigning for a full inquest for David Kelly claim there has been a Hillsborough-style cover-up in the case as they push for a fresh investigation on the 10th anniversary of his death.

The group, led by radiologist Stephen Frost, said it would be “shameful if the truth about the suspicious death” was suppressed in a similar way to details about the footballing tragedy that left 96 Liverpool FC fans dead.

Alastair Hay, a close friend of Dr Kelly’s, however insisted blood tests carried out on the scientist had “kicked into touch” claims he was murdered.

Parties feud over failed NHS trusts

The political fallout from the publication of Sir Bruce Keogh’s report into 14 failing hospital trusts continues today with Labour and the Conservatives seeking to blame each other over the scandal.

Prime Minister David Cameron has accused Labour of a “cover-up” over the high mortality rates, which has resulted in 11 hospitals being placed in special measures and subject to external inspections.

He said: “Where we have problems, and clearly there have been problems at these hospitals, the right thing to do is not cover that up as the previous government did, but to be open and frank about it and, as we’ve done, put those hospitals into special measures to give them assistance to make sure that performance improves.”

Children killed by free school meal

At least 20 children have died and more are sick after eating free meals at a primary school in eastern India.

Bihar state official Abhijit Sinha said another 27 children and the school cook were in hospital in Patna, the state capital, 10 of them in a serious condition.

The children, aged between eight and 11, fell ill yesterday soon after eating meals in the school in Masrakh, a village 50 miles north of Patna.

Ex-SFO boss blasted over payouts

The former director of the Serious Fraud Office showed “a disregard for the proper use of taxpayers’ money” in agreeing severance packages worth a total of around £1 million for three senior staff without securing necessary approval, Westminster’s spending watchdog found today.

In a scathing report, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, said that “a catalogue of errors and poor judgment” by Richard Alderman had undermined the SFO’s reputation and damaged the morale of its staff.

And the committee published a letter which Mr Alderman sent to them just days after a gruelling evidence session before the cross-party group, in which he acknowledged it was “justified” in criticising his actions and offered “my deep and unreserved apology”.

Gay marriage bill clears Parliament

A new law to legalise gay marriage is expected to be given Royal Assent this week having finally cleared Parliament after MPs agreed to amendments made in the House of Lords.

MPs decided not oppose a number of minor changes to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which will see partners legally allowed to wed from next summer.

Among the changes agreed by peers last night were protections for transgender couples which will allow people to change sex and remain married.

Thatcher fought to knight Savile

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher made repeated attempts to get Jimmy Savile knighted – despite pleas from her concerned aides – it was reported today.

Previously unseen Cabinet Office documents from Lady Thatcher’s premiership obtained by The Sun newspaper admit to advisers’ “worries” about Savile being made a “Sir” against a backdrop of “unfortunate revelations” about his private life.

The television star was knighted for his services to charity in 1990.

UK help sought in arms ship search

Panama has asked Britain for help after a North Korean ship carrying hidden weapons system parts was seized on its way from Cuba to its home country.

A private defence analysis firm that examined a photograph of the find said the ship appeared to be transporting a radar-control system for a Soviet-era surface-to-air missile system and Cuba later released a statement calling the equipment on the boat “obsolete defensive weapons” from the mid-20th century.

North Korea is barred by United Nations sanctions from importing sophisticated weapons or missiles.